Life after Death

What matters most is maximizing our life before death.

Recently there's been a spate of new books presenting what the authors consider an unshakable case for the survival of consciousness beyond death, drawn from quantum mechanics, neuroscience and moral philosophy.

But I have to confess that having the inside information Judaism gave me – long before the publication of these new findings that claim to know what happens after our “full life of 120” – is far more satisfying than the most compelling and supposedly scientific validity for belief in an afterlife.

True, Jewish tradition never emphasized or even went into great detail about the specifics of the World to Come. It was simply a given, a fact rooted, as biblical commentators explained, in the notion that we are created “in the image of God.” Since God is eternal, there is something within every one of us – the Divine essence that represents our identity and that we refer to as our souls – that must of necessity be equally eternal and immortal.

The soul accompanies our journey through life, and does not forsake us with the end of our physical being.

Our bodies, as material creations, came from the dust of the earth and have to return to their source; they disintegrate when they are buried. But our souls are the gift of “Himself” that the Almighty breathed into us. They accompany us in our journey through life and do not forsake us with the end of our physical beings.

Judaism did not dwell on the obvious. Sure there is life after death; without it life would be rendered a transient flash in the pan, perhaps fun while it lasted but ultimately devoid of meaning. The Torah recorded the past as history; it chose to leave the future as mystery. Its purpose was primarily to be a “tree of life” concerned with teaching us how to improve ourselves and our world while we inhabit it. The details of our post-terrestrial existence were in the main left unrecorded. There will be time enough for us to discover the Divine master plan for the World to Come – once we get there.

But if we are to lead our lives with the proper sense of responsibility and purpose, there are some things that the Sages realized we have to know about. So they did give us a peek into the future after our deaths.

At the moment of death, we catch a glimpse of God. The Torah teaches us that God decreed, “No man can see me and live” (Exodus 33:20). The implication is clear: with the end of life we are granted the gift of a minute vision of the Almighty. That is the reason, many commentators suggest, that we are obligated to close the eyes of the deceased. The eyes that have now beheld God Himself must be shut off from any further contact with the profane.

And it is this momentary meeting that serves to give meaning to all of our lives. We suddenly grasp that everything we have ever done or said was in the presence of a Higher Power. Everything we accomplished or failed to do was judged by the One Who created us. “Know before whom you are destined to give a final accounting” is the language of the Talmud. Can there be a greater incentive to do good and not evil than the knowledge that in the end it is God Who will pass judgment on whether we were a success or a failure?

In Kabbalah, the mystics add a small piece to the story. It is not only God who judges us. As we bid farewell to the world, we are shown a film that contains scenes of our entire lives. We are witnesses to every moment of our days on Earth as they pass before us with incredible rapidity. And as we watch our own story unfold, there are times when we cringe with embarrassment; others when we smile with glee. Our past moral lapses cause us to shudder in pain; our victories over our evil inclinations provide us with a keen sense of spiritual triumph. It is then that we realize in retrospect that we alone are the greatest judges of our own lives. What happens after death is that we gain the wisdom to evaluate our own life by the standards of Heaven – because we have finally glimpsed an eternal perspective.

The Eternal, Here and Now

There is a synagogue in Jerusalem with a most unusual architectural feature. Built into one of the walls facing the congregants is a coffin. When I visited and remarked upon this seemingly morbid addition, one of the elders explained to me that this was a tradition their community maintained for many centuries. It had its roots in an effort to remind everyone of the cardinal truth that, being mortal, we are all destined someday to face our Maker. No one is exempt from the final judgment. To place this in the forefront of our consciousness every day, he smilingly said to me, is not morbid but surely a mitzvah.

No, we do not need to know the details of the World to Come. But we must constantly be aware of the reality that our days will be scrutinized by a Higher Authority – and that we ourselves will be forced to join in the Divine judgment.

There is no clear picture painted for us of Heaven and Hell. While belief in reward and punishment after death is, according to Maimonides, one of the 13 major principles of our faith, we have no way of knowing exactly what is meant by this concept. But we can hazard a guess. Since our entry into the next world is preceded by the obligation for every one of us to watch the film record of our lives, what greater Hell can there be than for us to have to acknowledge our shameful actions and our unconscionable failings unto all eternity? And what greater Heaven can there be than the ability to look back forever on personal acts of goodness, of charity, and of noble and pious behavior that made us find favor in the eyes of God?

That's why it's so important for us to affirm that death isn't the end. And even if we don't know exactly how our souls will be treated either above or below, we have been assured that the righteous are guaranteed rewards commensurate with their good deeds, and the wicked will rue the evil they perpetrated.

Hell is the deep realization that we squandered an important part of life.

What is Hell? Remember when you were in eighth grade and something utterly embarrassing happened? The shame you felt and how you just wanted the ground to open up so you could disappear. That is Hell. It is the deepest realization that our life (or part of it) has been squandered, which creates a deep regret and shame in our soul.

The good news is that God – in His infinite kindness – established this as a cleansing process, where after one year (or less), all the negativity has been forever washed away.

Closing the Curtain

So why think about what happens after death while we're still here? The answer is simple and at the same time most profound: Whatever actions we take on Earth must be with a sense of their eternal ramification.

Perhaps it's best reflected in the following story. A very wealthy man not known for his piety stood in a long line of those waiting to have their lives assessed by the heavenly court. He listened attentively as those who were being judged before him recounted both their spiritual failings and achievements. A number of them seemed to have the scales weighted against them until they suddenly remembered acts of charity they had performed, which dramatically tipped the scales in their favor. The rich man took it all in and smiled to himself.

When it was his turn, he confidently said, “I may have committed many sins during my lifetime, but I realize now what has the power to override them. I am a very wealthy man and I will be happy to write out a very large check to whatever charity you recommend.”

To which the court replied, “We are truly sorry, but here we do not accept checks – only receipts.”

The choices we make today create our eternal portion in the Next World.

The true tragedy of death is that it represents the closing curtain on our ability to do anymore mitzvot. We no longer have the free will to do good (or evil). It is only what we bring to that moment that can earn us entry into a state of eternal bliss. It's what we do here and now that truly matters. The choices we make today create our portion in the Next World. For eternity.

Death isn't a destroyer; it's a transition. As the chassidic Rabbi Mendel of Kotzk put it, “Death is just a matter of going from one room to another. And if we live our lives in accord with the will of God, we are certain that the place we are going to is ultimately the more beautiful area.”

Yes, there is life after death. But the greatest afterlife is achieved by focusing on how we can maximize our life before death.

Featured at Aish.com:

About the Author

Rabbi Benjamin Blech, a frequent contributor to Aish, is a Professor of Talmud at Yeshiva University and an internationally recognized educator, religious leader, and lecturer. Author of 14 highly acclaimed books with combined sales of over a half million copies, his newest, The World From A Spiritual Perspective, is a collection of over 100 of his best Aish articles. See his website at rabbibenjaminblech.com.

The opinions expressed in the comment section are the personal views of the commenters. Comments are moderated, so please keep it civil.

Visitor Comments: 41

(36)
David H. Relkin,
April 9, 2015 6:34 AM

The "After"-Life

I am not a Rabbi, so I will defer to the lessons that I can take from his wisdom. But it seems to me that if we only experience the "true" world after we die, then we have lost this world, yes, we do good here and are rewarded there, or, since we are in the image of God we are eternal--BUT I don't like the phrase after-life.But to me, all of this seems to me rather pale to what I feel when I feel NOW is eternal, this moment, this thought, this smile. These are eternal but not IN TIME (AS IN THIS HAPPENS BEFORE THAT) rather eternity to me is OUTSIDE TIME. We experience moments that we know resonate in eternity, and which can only be fully understood as "this feeling will never die"But I will and was not afraid for 13.75 Billion years when I was not, so too after I live. Eternity is not after life but IN IT. To truly feel this world is to know there is no adequate expression of our experience without the feeling that this feeling is eternity. That is enough for me.

(35)
Lisa,
November 24, 2014 2:31 AM

Yes...this world is just the hallway to The Real World!

There were no guarantees in This World. In Olam Haba GD promises us....you did good....you were a good person...then in The World To Come....that's where you get the goodies...the prizes...that's where you get what you deserved!

(34)
Harise,
July 17, 2014 5:14 PM

The Best

This is the best I have read on this oft considered question, I can absorb this explanation better than others I've heard and forgotten. Sometimes when I read Aish articles, or Torah portions, I can feel the truth in them even if I don't understand it all. With this essay I can do both.

(33)
Anonymous,
March 24, 2014 3:29 AM

After Loss Of Loved Ones

Having lost several family members in an accident, I've been puzzling over how to understand and grieve while honoring them memory. This clear, concise explanation of what we know and what we'll just have to wait and find out lifted the weight that I hadn't realized was on my heart. The insight the Rabbi shared opened my eyes to understanding how to deal with grief and smile over memories of them that were so overwhelmingly positive. That you for the wisdom that this article contains. It has helped me find peace.

(32)
Mary,
March 23, 2014 8:47 PM

Life after Death

In 1972, I read a book, LIFE AFTER LIFE by a Doctor. It made a lasting impression on my mind. I just pray, when that last breath is over, I'll be in HIS presence. I'm still afraid though. This is my HUMAN side speaking. My Father died in 1987 and I received a sign that all was well with his soul. That is comfort.

(31)
Ronnie V. Padua,
June 4, 2013 3:57 PM

Summer is the messages of the entire files.

Summer is the messages of the entire files that belongs to the one who is at the bringing of the files. Also, its should be allowed to dramatically demonstrate it as a messages of the files. Bringing it to the one who is that deficit to an almost minor life in the event of the cenario of the files that will do the same thing as this. There are brutally encapsulating the true meaning of the files that even the six minded people are cannot be found. The true essence of the event is that they are lactating milk of the bruise of the event manager. Its also, true that the summer is passing away that their are some rain and rain for the fast month. It's nothing when we compare it to the moon or the sunny day suns. It's minded also, that the reality of the show is release than a mentor that will stop him from watching the movie... Nevertheless the arrow is the one that will demand for the movie that was shown in the TV or Laptop (Computer). only the well known characters are have been recognised due to its character that have been protrudes.

(30)
Barbara Radle,
March 31, 2013 9:04 PM

Insightful

This is so insightful and succinct. Thank you for the teaching that we participate in judging ourselves. This article is another of many examples of how you can find the answers to your deepest questions in Judaism. So many have usurped this knowledge without giving proper credit. It is all life - earthly life and life after death.

(29)
Chris Rettenmoser,
May 1, 2012 10:28 PM

My soulmate died

First a logical note: The human mind is the act of navigation in space and time...but time is flowing and to be able to navigate in that flowing medium, we are in need of a fixed point OUTSIDE of time, this is our soul...it is the foundation of the human and also of the animal mind.
I had a soulmate, Amy, she was a wonderful Jewish lady and we had become friends and more by communicating through e-mails... she suddenly became very ill and our last internet contact stopped about two months ago...I later got evidence of her passing away...This was and is so unspeakable sad (I got a very last video from her...!)...but she told me in one of her last mails, that she will wait for me in the other world...Her promise will be on my mind, until we will be together again...my life before death has now changed...

(28)
Emmanuel Odemena,
May 1, 2012 11:17 AM

Absolutely interesting.

This is the most insightful article I've read regarding life after death. Thank you Rabbi.
Emmanuel Odemena

(27)
Anonymous,
January 13, 2012 7:22 PM

life after death

THIS IS THE MOST COMPREHENSIVE DISCUSSION ON LIFE AFTER DEAT THAT I HAVE SEEN.
FOR SOME REASON, IT COMFORTS ME.
IT GIVES ME MORE RREASON TO DO MITZVAHS IN THIS LIFE.

Uli Ledeboer,
March 23, 2014 7:28 PM

very interesting!

you´re right Anonymous, I felt exactly the same - we have to do more mitzvot - as many as possible. I also felt comforted by the article.

(26)
Maria,
January 10, 2012 8:20 AM

Thank you

I have cancer and I am slowly dying ...your words helpd me.
Thank you
Maria

peter,
January 13, 2012 11:14 PM

Don't worry

Maria,
You have been given a gift. Since we all must leave this world; You have been given a opportunity to get closer to G-d and family and friends before the change. Let your spirit soar to new heights of love and peace.

Maria,
January 16, 2012 12:12 PM

Peter

What a sweet way to describe death..."a gift"...
When my time come maybe I can also say:
"Oh wow. Oh wow. Oh wow." . Thank you so much for de encouragement. Your words touchd me profoundly.
Maria

(25)
Anonymous,
July 12, 2011 4:36 PM

this has helped me to get over death and agree that it happens to the best of us.

(24)
Anonymous,
March 21, 2011 8:58 PM

Wow-powerful

What a moving piece. Foundations of Judaism well elucidated to lift any day. Thank you.

(23)
Michal,
July 18, 2010 11:47 AM

Hi, Rabbi Blech

I know you from your course in Jewish Pathways and I have the feeling, I know you well. It's beautiful, what you write.
But to know the good and the bad of our lives, we must not be dead, I know it already, and now already I am sorry and sad about the things and thoughts, which were not right.
So I am not afraid. And how it will be in Olam Habah is
really not important. I am longing to be with God, whom my soul loves. What else can there be more iimportant
I just read your book EYEWITNESS TO JEWISH HISTORY:
I like it. Thanks for sharing your knowledge with us!!!

(22)
SusanE,
November 29, 2009 12:54 AM

I Read this Wonderful Observation, Perhaps Here on Aish.

On talking about Heaven and reaping Rewards after death, a man said, " What if we live a rich, selfless, compassionate, caring life here on Earth, then we die and there is Nothing, no Reward? The other man said, If that happens, then your Reward is that wonderful LIFE that you lived on Earth."

sahib,
July 12, 2011 4:38 PM

very nice

(21)
kamran shahkohi,
November 28, 2009 10:29 PM

death gives meaning to life

Death gives meaning to Life, once you realize the debt of life you can live a lifetime in a moment

(20)
Anonymous,
November 24, 2009 8:06 AM

Thank you so much for this wonderful, profound and very wise article. I have sent it to several people who also will love it.

(19)
Beverly Kurtin,
November 19, 2009 6:20 AM

Death & Peace

(accidentally sent previous comment)
After going through coronary bypass surgery, I was in agony when all of a sudden the pain was gone and total peace replaced the pain. Just as I was beginning to wonder why I was feeling no pain the door to my room burst open and the code blue team entered. I heard nothing. I had died! They put the paddles on me and the pain was back instantly. Those paddles BURN!
Don't get me wrong, I'm tickled to be with the living, but that forever took the fear of death from me and I appreciate the feelings of being alive. I have chronic pain and there's nothing I can do about it, but I'm HAPPY to be alive. I don't have a lot of money because I had to retire early because a massive stroke took me down. But I've got something most people don't have: NO DEBT and a savings account and I don't even make $20K a year. I'm NOT griping, I'm too happy to be alive to worry about the stuff that doesn't matter.

(18)
Sheila Silver Halet,
November 18, 2009 7:37 PM

Todah Rabbah, Rabbi

I studied Torah and Talmud many years ago at Hebrew College and have spent 45 of my 66 years on earth, trying to be a good person by teaching Hebrew School. I have recently become a retired recluse, of sorts looking for a peaceful end to my life. A wonderful book called Final Gifts by hospice nurses Maggie Callanan and Patricia Helly have opened up my eyes to how some people "go into the light" from terminal illness. It seemed as if that somewhere between coma and death....they do see something that no one can see or explain. When I watched my beloved Mom as she died, I called out to her "Mommy-don't go" - she waved her hand as if she was saying goodbye and then she was gone. Five years later "in utero" at the ultra sound my daughter took, my Grandaughter named for my Mother, also waved. Thank you for letting me share that mystery of life.

(17)
Célio R. Jr.,
November 18, 2009 12:13 PM

I think that Rabbi Blech was very careful in this matter. Whenever a loved one dies, always comes in my mind that is exactly in the moment of death is that the man loses all power over their "free will" but, in compensation, it recognizes the eternity of your own souls from birth. Now, this is the time we feel really the greatness and the presence of God in our lives. I think Moses and Elijah, they felt that.

(16)
Iris Moskovitz,
November 18, 2009 3:50 AM

Truly an exceptional article.

Absolutely thought provoking words. I am so happy I took the time to read the article . I have learned so much information on a topic I think about quite often. May the Almighty continue to give you strength to write articles that strengthen us!

(15)
Kara,
November 18, 2009 2:35 AM

Looking at Death in Such a GREAT Light!!!

WOW!!! I have been a student of Judaism for awhile. I am pursuing being Jewish. Recently I have been wondering about the afterlife. I have been SO busy learning and experiencing Judaism that I have hardly had time to wonder about the afterlife. I have thought about it here and there, but....did not pursue it. What a WONDERFUL way of teaching the afterlife! I was with my grandmother/mother when she passed away. She told me she loved me, she looked up and then it seemed to me as if she had a heart attack. She was almost 91! She seemed so at peace. Thank you again, Rabbi.

(14)
Anonymous,
November 17, 2009 10:40 PM

Life after death

I'd like my soul to be recirculated into a better and healthier body and into more affluent circumstances.
This time around hasn't been a nice one. Even better if I have some recollection of what I was before so I could avoid the same mistakes. Can't see living forever with masses of souls around me.

(13)
Anonymous,
November 17, 2009 4:31 PM

Daily Living

What use is heaven if our daily lives are hell? There is no need to worry or even think about heaven or hell if we look after each and every day. Heaven can wait and I nobody wants hell. May our daily lives be filled with happiness.

(12)
Ruth,
November 17, 2009 1:43 AM

Making sense of my Mom's transition

When my mother died, I felt and feel that she is nearby, just in the next room and that she is enjoying the journey. Thank you, Rabbi, for this explanation of the Jewish perspective on death and the mysterious future that awaits us all. My mother's life and my own study of Judaism inspire me to be the best person I can be in this life in the hopes of rejoining all my family and friends in the next room.

(11)
Michal,
November 16, 2009 11:27 PM

I long to see God because I love Him

Like Moses and Elijah, I long to see God. Those holy men saw/felt something. Nothing in the world can stop my longing to be as near to God as possible. And I am looking forward to stand together with my brothers and sisters in the shining light of His face. Even if G-d sends me away for a time to what we call "hell", because in my long life there were many things really bad, I want to be judged and I accept His sentence. But in the end I will be with Him forever. So I am looking forward to it and at the same time gladly thank Him every day for giving me another day of life. I appreciate that Rabbi Blech explained everything so carefully.

(10)
Anny Matar,
November 16, 2009 5:10 PM

It might answer many questions so many of us ask

We, the ordinary people living ordinary lives in a free world can certaily find one of the many possibilities in what the Rabbi suggests. I DO BELIEVE that those loved ones who passed away do have a chance to protect us in our lives but - there is always a but - what happened to our 6million brethern?
Whenever I think of so many who died I believe that their outcry to God was heard and that they can look down upon ISARAEL today and say:"NEVER WILL OTHERS BE ABLE TO SLAUGHTER US - we gave our lives so that others might live.
One door closed and another opened.

(9)
Betty,
November 16, 2009 2:43 AM

informative messages mean so much to me.

The sermon, Life After Death" by Rabbi Benjamin Blech, meant so much to me, an Anglo Methodist. Thank you for the wonderful work you are doing. I have been to Israel, and realize how precarious your very existance is there as you struggle to maintain your holy birthright. My prayers are with you and your people daily. Betty Rigsbee

(8)
gord bushewsky,
November 16, 2009 1:24 AM

The Rabbi has written with such clarity that I am profoundly moved to try harder to be a better person in the time I have left

(7)
Bernie Siegel MD,
November 15, 2009 7:47 PM

he who seeks to save his life will lose it

when you live to please others you lose your life. when you accept your mortality and live your authentic life you lose the untrue self and save your life. as a physician i see the benefits to your life and body when this happens.
'I was given two months to live so i bought a dog, put in a backyard wildlife habitat, laughed more etc" her letter ends and "i didn';t die and now i'm so busy i'm killing myself." i told het to take a nap. watch what happens to the lockerbie killer too now that he is out of a prison cell. he won't die in the three months predicted. so live your life and serve the world as our creator would desire you to.

(6)
doris litz,
November 15, 2009 5:51 PM

believable

this is certainly a very provacative article. but who is to say it is really so. it is only one man's opinion. isnt that true

(5)
Anonymous,
November 15, 2009 5:36 PM

Reply to Rabbi Blech

I sincerely believe that since Judaism has demurred from strong consideration of an afterlife, I believe this has really hurt us through history. The reason often stated is that "we didn't want to become like the ancient Egyptians", which is to say 'death obsessed.' I think we have driven away many Jews, over the last several generations, because of this practice of avoiding or demuring from a view of the afterlife. Big mistake in my opinion. As for doing a life review, yes that could not be pleasent for most of us, yet, if we can be honest with ourselves and not too prideful, should this 'moment' ever come, I am guessing that it might be worth the 'going-through.'

(4)
ruth,
November 15, 2009 4:54 PM

still life/staying alive is no accident

Your deep and beautiful account, is about the grand accounting of our deeds, in meeting God and yet, we do, everyday, as also yes, it is God's presence in our lives, for some visible, for others invisilbe, and for yet others, a fleeting glimpse into the ineffable, that resides here, with us, all our waking and dreaming hours. And surely life passes, like a dream, and it's over before we quite grasp the enormity of this story, we all share, and also experience in solitary. In language itself, within the Hebrew letters, and across all languages is this story, and it is a deeply coded story.

(3)
John Sam Campana,
November 15, 2009 3:21 PM

Such great wisdom. The Rabbi expresses himself so that anyone can understand. The Jewish people have done so much for the people of the world. I have never understood why so many people dislike the Jewish race. I love my Jewish friends.

(2)
Anonymous,
November 15, 2009 2:47 PM

ALREADY LIVING IN HELL

I am a 57 y.o. single woman who has very recently realized that I have squandered a huge part of my life. I never married and was always the "party girl"( to say the least.) I look back now on past escapades with great shame and regret and the worst part is that I am looking to place the blame elsewhere and ultimately I know I have only myself to blame. I am now trying to work on bettering myself.

CG,
March 27, 2014 4:31 AM

I wish you much success and happiness.There is hope. You are still ALIVE - so you can still make amends. Rabbi Nachman of Breslov said: "if you believe that you can ruin, believe too that you can fix." While you're alive you can still fix - it's possible even to transform sins into mitzvos (good deeds), if a person returns to G-d out of love and if one teaches others to learn from his mistakes. Then his mistakes will not have been for nothing; in fact, good will have come from them. I wish you much success! May you have Heavenly assistance every step of the way!(There is a book called Shaarei Teshuva - "Gates of Repentance" - that is the authoritative Jewish text on repentance. I only read a bit of it, but I have gained even from that.)Thank you also for honestly expressing your feelings of shame and regret and desire to place blame elsewhere. I could relate, and they made me think about my life. Again, much success on you journey.

(1)
Alan S.,
November 15, 2009 10:40 AM

Rabbi Blech always writes magnficiently.

A powerful article with wonderful metaphors and imagery. One paragraph however, is a bit confusing. Is there a "cleansing process" for true evil doers? Do the soul's -- if they have one -- of the bin Laden's and Hitlers of the world get purified? HaShem "hover's" to breath life into a body whose soul eventually goes "bad" so that we have free will here on earth. It will still be a mystery to me about what portion - if any - these "bad" souls get in the world to come.

I've been striving to get more into spirituality. But it seems that every time I make some progress, I find myself slipping right back to where I started. I'm getting discouraged and feel like a failure. Can you help?

The Aish Rabbi Replies:

Spiritual slumps are a natural part of spiritual growth. There is a cycle that people go through when at times they feel closer to God and at times more distant. In the words of the Kabbalists, it is "two steps forward and one step back." So although you feel you are slipping, know that this is a natural process. The main thing is to look at your overall progress (over months or years) and be able to see how far you've come!

This is actually God's ingenious way of motivating us further. The sages compare this to teaching a baby how to walk. When the parent is holding on, the baby shrieks with delight and is under the illusion that he knows how to walk. Yet suddenly, when the parent lets go, the child panics, wobbles and may even fall.

At such times when we feel spiritually "down," that is often because God is letting go, giving us the great gift of independence. In some ways, these are the times when we can actually grow the most. For if we can move ourselves just a little bit forward, we truly acquire a level of sanctity that is ours forever.

Here is a practical tool to help pull you out of the doldrums. The Sefer HaChinuch speaks about a great principle in spiritual growth: "The external awakens the internal." This means that although we may not experience immediate feelings of closeness to God, eventually, by continuing to conduct ourselves in such a manner, this physical behavior will have an impact on our spiritual selves and will help us succeed. (A similar idea is discussed by psychologists who say: "Smile and you will feel happy.")

That is the power of Torah commandments. Even if we may not feel like giving charity or praying at this particular moment, by having a "mitzvah" obligation to do so, we are in a framework to become inspired. At that point we can infuse that act of charity or prayer with all the meaning and lift it can provide. But if we'd wait until being inspired, we might be waiting a very long time.

May the Almighty bless you with the clarity to see your progress, and may you do so with joy.

In 1940, a boatload 1,600 Jewish immigrants fleeing Hitler's ovens was denied entry into the port of Haifa; the British deported them to the island of Mauritius. At the time, the British had acceded to Arab demands and restricted Jewish immigration into Palestine. The urgent plight of European Jewry generated an "illegal" immigration movement, but the British were vigilant in denying entry. Some ships, such as the Struma, sunk and their hundreds of passengers killed.

If you seize too much, you are left with nothing. If you take less, you may retain it (Rosh Hashanah 4b).

Sometimes our appetites are insatiable; more accurately, we act as though they were insatiable. The Midrash states that a person may never be satisfied. "If he has one hundred, he wants two hundred. If he gets two hundred, he wants four hundred" (Koheles Rabbah 1:34). How often have we seen people whose insatiable desire for material wealth resulted in their losing everything, much like the gambler whose constant urge to win results in total loss.

People's bodies are finite, and their actual needs are limited. The endless pursuit for more wealth than they can use is nothing more than an elusive belief that they can live forever (Psalms 49:10).

The one part of us which is indeed infinite is our neshamah (soul), which, being of Divine origin, can crave and achieve infinity and eternity, and such craving is characteristic of spiritual growth.

How strange that we tend to give the body much more than it can possibly handle, and the neshamah so much less than it needs!